Mormons - Is it true that the endowment ritual requires you to learn four secret handshakes?

Mormons must learn four secret handshakes to ensure admission into the presence of God. Why is this? I am not a Mormon, but know these handshakes - if I'm wrong about the Book of Mormon and it's true, do you think I could trick God by knowing the handshakes? If God cannot be tricked and knows if you've been faithful to the Book of Mormon, why need handshakes?